On 2012-08-27 16:56, lucas vigor wrote:In my opinion, Spike, your band is the first and only hulabilly band. While its true junior brown had a couple songs, nobody has taken it to the level you have. And it's true, you had the idea for it at least 8 years ago. It's amazing what you have built I also think it is safe to say you are the originator and creater of a new genre of music. For that, you can be proud!

[ This Message was edited by: lucas vigor 2012-08-27 16:57 ]

I want to second this statement. It was actually more than 8 years ago. How do I know? Well, if you'll recall, the Smokin' Menehunes played at Sydney's 1st Birthday Luau back in 2003. That was 9 years ago and although a precursor to The Hula Girls, the SM's were already doing the Hulabilly stuff in their set.

Here's a pic from that party. Spike ain't singin' no Hapa Haole - I guarantee it!

Oh Man! I took so much crap for wearing those clothes to that gig! Both bong and Spike literally wanted to kill me!
But, I had met those guys shortly after quitting a semi-famous HB Punk/metal band (whose name I would rather not reveal) and did not quite get the tiki "image" yet!

Those were cool early gigs for us...yours, and I believe the bamboo ben gig were among the first we ever did as a group.

On 2012-08-29 11:09, JOHN-O wrote:And also while the steel guitar was a mainstay of early Country and Western Swing, it appears to be the exception more than the rule by the time Rockabilly took off.

Perhaps the definition of "Hulabilly" is the consistent use of steel (in addition to the Poly Pop themes) as performed in the majority of The Hula Girls' songs.

Actually here's Spike's take on the term from the Fall 2011 Tiki Magazine (vol. 7, no. 2)...

It looks like Tiki Oasis 2013 might be casting a broader definition of the term, I'm assuming based on the great influence of the steel guitar sound (from Hawaii !!) on early Country music and Western Swing.

I think there was a saying that went... "To get to Nashville, you've got to go through Honolulu".

There are only a limited number of steel guitar bands out there. besides the sweet hollywaiians, there are also the Smokin menehunes, who have not played tiki oasis since 2004, but would be glad to be back.

Jeff, I am real sorry I missed your surf event. You see, we ended up leaving for a vacation during that time.

You are going to tell me that a band that plays every other tiki event, like the smoking menehunes, shouldn't play at tiki oasis? 2004 was the last time, bud. We are probably the only band around playing vintage hawaiian music, and oasis has had punk and ska bands playing but not us. What, do we suck that bad?